New Pillow Case Dresses!

I love making tutus but I decided it would also be fun to make pillow case dresses.  Those of you who keep up with my blog know that I have always said I can't sew. Well, I'm getting better at it and this pattern (which really is more like a set of directions than an actual pattern) is super easy and fun to do.  So, I went for it. So far, Lucy has two new dresses and I'm working on a third.  The one below is the second one I made for her. I absolutely love this material!  It's got just about every fairy tale you can think of included on it but not in the way we are used to seeing them.  They have an Asian flare and some subtle changes.  It's just too cute!  Because my itty-bitty girl is so itty-bitty, I'm able to use a lot of scrap fabric to make her skirts and dresses so I didn't order a lot of this material but I do have enough to make one more dress. I'll be listing it on Etsy soon so be sure to check-it out or message me if you just have to have it for your little princess!

Lucy's new Fairy Tale pillow case dress

Dress is made from adorable cotton fabric with Snow White and other characters and satin ribbon

This pillow case dress is perfect for summer and will look so cute in the fall with long-sleeved t-shirt and leggings.

I'm so glad I got over my fear of sewing because this has been a lot of fun and I have a lot more great ideas in my head for different fabrics and styles.  What do you think?

Pink Satin Gown

On a whim, I ordered some pink satin fabric from my tulle distributor.  I thought I might try to make Lucy a dress if it was enough.  I didn't really look at the quantity and I had no idea what satin costs, but I thought it might be slightly expensive.  I placed the order and waited the week or so for it to come in.
This is what I got.

Now that's a lot of satin!

What in the world am I going to do with all of that satin?

Make dresses, of course!  Here's my fist attempt.  I think it turned out super cute.  You may have noticed that I generally only use one pattern when I make dresses because this pattern is so simple and I'm really not much of a seamstress.  I change it up by adding rhinestones, buttons, applique, etc.  This one only has a button in the back for now but I could add other thing. I think I may add some flowers.

Lucy's new satin dress

The back of Lucy's new satin dress

I love satin!

Good news is, I have enough satin left to make a few more, which means I can list this at a pretty low cost to you, my wonderful fans and customers! With some rhinestones or flowers, this would be great for a wedding or party!  A satin sash would also add a touch of class. What do you think?

Dress is Finally Finished!

Lucy is seriously pondering her new dress

Earlier in the week, I posted about Lucy's New Dress and how I couldn't get it over her head!  Well, today, I went back and added a button.  It wasn't as much work as I thought it was going to be.  And it was well worth it! She absolutely loves her new dress.  I could hardly get it off of her! It's about 50 degrees here right now so I felt like she needed to change after our quick photo shoot but she would have been content to run around in it for hours! Now, I'm all geared up to make lots more dresses!

She likes it!

This dress is clearly a size 3T and Lucy is barely a size 2T so it will fit a little differently on the right sized girl. But I also like that she has lots of room to wiggle around in it. As you can see from the pics, she does a lot of wiggling around!

She likes it so much, she starts to sing and dance!

I'm off to add a few of these pics to my etsy listing!

Lucy's loves her new dress!

Valentine's Day is Quickly Approaching!

Ah, it's February First--the first official day of the Valentine's Season.  Okay, I know that's not at thing, but maybe it should be! Some of us have been preparing for Valentine's Day before Christmas was even over but others are just now starting to get into the spirit of all things hearts, cupids and L-O-V-E.  And, how do I know so many people are beginning to think about Valentine's Day today?  The ginormous amount of traffic my Valentine's Day tutus have seen today is one indicator!  Holy cow, is that Pixie tutu popular!  I'm just thrilled that so many people love it!

Pixie tutu, very popular today, no exaggeration!

Normally, I don't stress at all about getting orders out within one to two days. However, I just found out today that I've been asked to go to a conference in Austin next week--pretty much all of next week--so that won't leave me oodles of time to get tutus out before Valentine's Day. Hence, if you are considering ordering one of my tutus for Valentine's Day, if you can possibly order this weekend, that would be totally awesome! That isn't to say that if you order next week I won't get it to you in time--I most certainly will, if I have to stay up all night to get it done--I would just like to get as much done before I leave!
Today I had an Etsy conversation with a new customer who was very complimentary of my shop.  She said she'd been looking for an affordable tutu for her baby for a while and she was happy to have finally found my Pixie tutu.  I absolutely love connecting with people through Etsy and whenever a customer says something so kind, I often feel the need to go above and beyond my normal above and beyond and add something extra to their order.  So, this sweet little princess will also be getting the headband pictured to match her tutu.  This is the third headband I've made like this one and I think it's super cute and unique.  I'm thinking of calling it the "Tulle Pom-Pom" headband.  What would y'all call it? It's made much the same way as my boas, with lots of little pieces of tulle tied around a ribbon, attached to a crotchet-elastic headband, and then I sew or glue a button or something cute in the center.

New headband

Love this little pink flower!

I used shimmer tulle to add some extra shine

Alrighty!  It's been a busy day and I foresee a busy weekend.  If you have any questions about my Valentine's Day tutus (pictured below) please email me, message me here, or convo me through Etsy.  Have a Super-Duper Saturday!

Lucy's New Dress

You may recall that I was initially too terrified of my sewing machine to even think about actually trying to us it.  See my post, "8 Reasons I'm Terrified of My New Sewing Machine."  However, Saturday afternoon I decide it was utterly ridiculous for me to be afraid of a sewing machine.  I had a dress all cut out, pinned and ready to sew.  All I needed to do was turn that bad-boy on and stitch it up!  I was bound and determined I was going to do it! Tomorrow.  Sunday. Yep, that was going to be the day!  Unless I was too busy or there was a good football game on (the Pro Bowl could have been good!) or it was nice outside and I could go for a walk, or I had to clean the curtains, you know something important that couldn't wait.  Yay, I was probably going to get that dress put together on Sunday. Most likely.  Maybe . . . .
But I did it!  I finally got up the nerve on Sunday afternoon and sat down at The Beast, fingers trembling, knees knocking, pedal foot twitching.  At first I thought it would be a good idea to try some practice stitches on a spare piece of fabric.  So I put a scrap piece in and let it fly!  I was amazed that my fingers were still in tact until I realized that the thread had come out of the needle and not only were my fingers stitch free, so was the fabric.  Ah, but I would not let this minor setback deter me.  I re-threaded the needle and tried again!  This time, I was able to get some stitches into the fabric.  However, the thread got really tangled up in the bottom of the machine where the bobbin is.  Frustrated but bound to be successful, I got my husband--Mr. Fix-It--and he helped me clear the knots. Though it would have probably been a good idea to keep practicing on pieces of cloth I didn't need for the dress, I finally decided to just get it over already and try sewing the dress together.  So, I put the carefully pieced together garment under the rocker-pedal or whatever it's called, and hesitantly pushed down on the pedal.  To my amazement, the machine was actually doing what I was telling it to do!  I was actually able to sew the dress together--all of it!  And when I took it up and held it up, it actually looked like a dress! I was so proud of myself!  I couldn't believe I had taken some pieces of cloth and turned them into an actual wearable item. (Okay--so when I make a tutu I use hundreds of pieces of cloth and turn those into a wearable item but this was different--it utilized machinery we've only had since the Industrial Revolution and that was only a 150 years ago or so.  In a few more years, maybe I'll get one of those cordless phones!)

Lucy's new dress!

The only problem with my dress was that I could not figure out how to finish the edges.  I read in the booklet that came with the sewing machine that I should have been able to use some sort of finishing stitch to make this happen, but it was not cooperating.  I finally decided that I would hand-sew ribbon around the edges and I think it turned out okay but I'm going to have to put in hems next time or something because it took too long and I don't really like sewing ribbon.
I also decided I needed to do something to make my dress stand out from all of the other cute little frocks you can find on etsy these days.  There are a lot of people who can make much more complex designs with a sewing machine than I can.  So, I decided to add some rhinestones.  Lucy really likes ladybugs right now so I made a template for a ladybug and added that to the front of the dress.  Even though ladybugs are mostly red and her dress is pink, I think it turned out really cute.

And Lucy's little ladybug

After several hours of work (mostly on the ribbon and the untying of several knots in the sewing machine thread) I finally had a very cute little dress! I couldn't wait to put it on my little baby and see how cute she looked!  Unfortunately, she was taking a nap!  So, I waited and waited.  When she finally got up, she loved the dress!  She started carrying it around with her like it was one of the 3 blankets she can't leave the house without (and this includes her bedspread, which makes traveling as simple as, well, packing around a bedspread.) Eventually, I convinced her to let me try it on her.  Giddy with glee, I slipped the little pink frock over her head--uhm, just one problem. It wouldn't actually go over her head.  It was stuck.  It was stuck on my baby's enormous head!  Lucy is a teeny, tiny girl.  20% in weight, 30% in height, 98% in cranium. Yep, ginormous head.  (It's because her brain is sooo big!) After all of that work and anticipation, we were not getting that dress on for anything!  She didn't seem to care but Mommy was very disappointed, sniffle, sniffle.
I know that all I need to do is go back and put a button on the back of the dress and it won't take me that long to add said button.  So, that's the plan.  But I would have really liked to have seen her in the dress after all of that work. Ah, well, eventually she'll be wearing that ladybug dress, spinning around, falling down, tearing a big whole in it, and we'll be tossing it in the trash. . . . If I'm lucky, maybe I'll get a picture of her in it first!
I can't wait to make some more of these cute little dresses.  They are simple and comfy, perfect for spring.  I have purchased some really cute fabric to a make more.  I am going to have to perfect my technique a little bit but overall I'm pretty happy with how the first one turned out.
What projects have you decided to try even though you were scared of messing them up?  Sometimes our best work comes out of our biggest fears!

Busy Weekend Finishing Projects!

I usually try to write a post every day, or at least every other day, but the last few days I've been swamped!  I had three orders to get out by yesterday and I had a whole bunch of projects I've been working on.  I finally used my sewing machine (!) and made a dress for Lucy.  I think it turned out alright but not perfect. I will probably list it but I wouldn't sell this particular one to anybody.  I'd just use it to show the style and what  I can add to it (a.k.a. check out the rhinestone ladybug.)  Besides, Lucy really likes it.

Lucy  loves ladybugs!

Lucy's new dress

I also made several rhinestone t-shirts.  A few of them I used transfers for that I already had but I also made some of my own transfers which takes a lot more time but I'm really happy with how they turned out.

This is my design, rhinestones completely placed by me from my  own template

From a purchased transfer

I hand placed these rhinestones, too

This one is for Imma's teacher (don't tell her!) It's from a transfer but it would be very simple to make a similar template.

This one is also from a purchased transfer but would be easy to do something similar.

I finished the Princess Lolly tutu!

Princess Lolly tutu before the lollipops

And after the lollipops.  It took me 7 hours to make these felt lollipops and attach them to the dress.  Yipes!

I was also asked to make a felt owl mask for a huge project I'll be making soon for a birthday party in April. I'm super excited about this project! I wasn't sure if I could make a felt owl mask or not but I did and I really liked making it.  In fact, I liked it so much, I made a Valentine's Day one, too!

Original owl mask.  I think next time I will make the eye wholes bigger.

Valentine's Owl Mask.  The pink you see through the eye wholes is the elastic band.  I could't get either girl to hold still long enough to take a picture with it on!

I also made two tutus this week for a new customer in Pennsylvania and three tutu kits for a very nice woman in New York.  She's going to use them at a baby shower!  The guests are going to make tutus for the new baby.  What an awesome idea!  Wouldn't it be so sweet to give your little girl a tutu that your family and friends made for her at her baby shower?  I love that idea!
I also made this Rock 'n' Roll Teen Tutu for a giveaway winner and I love how it turned out.  She's just too cute! See, I told you you're never too old for a tutu!

Super chic Rock 'n' Roll tutu

If I looked this good in a tutu, I'd wear one everyday!

I'm also still working on an infinity scarf, a couple more t-shirt designs, and I think I'm going to make more felt masks.

What have y'all been up to this weekend??

Valentine's Tutus Revealed!!

Here they are!  You've seen the two gowns on Sneak Peek Sunday but here are the rest of my gorgeous Valentine's Day Tutus!  Now, I know you are thinking, "OMG, it's barely January--who in their right mind is thinking about Valentine's Day??"  Well, I am!  And if you have a little girl, she probably is, too! Let's face it, we have to have something to look forward to!  And while these tutus are definitely meant for the day we celebrate all things LOVEly  they will work for everyday Princessness as well!  So, without further ado. . . .

Queen of Hearts, Ribbon and Boa Bodice, 6 layers, 18 inches. Can customize length, size, colors. Available on etsy, $50

Valentine's Red, 6 layers, tulle bodice, 18 inches.  Available now on etsy for $40

Glittery pink tutu skirt, made of fuchsia and pink-glitter tulle, 12 inches, crotchet elastic waist. Available on etsy for only $10!

Pixie tutu in light pink and fuchsia.  6 inches, crotchet-elastic waist. Available on etsy for only $8! Can customize length, colors, etc.

Soft rose tutu skirt, 18 inches, crotchet-elastic waist.  Can customize color (I have 6 shades of pink!) length, waist. Available on etsy for $10!

Tri-colored Valentine's tutu skirt.  12 inches in white, shocking pink, and red. Crotchet-elastic waist. Can customize color, length, and substitute ribbon waist.  Available on etsy for only $10

More pictures also available on etsy.  I will also be adding these to ArtFire and Bonanza if you prefer to shop on one of those sites.  You can literally check out from this blog on the ArtFire tab on the right or directly from my Facebook page from the ArtFire kiosk.  How simple is that?  I can ship next day but don't wait!  It will be Valentine's Day before you know it and your little princess is gonna want to shine!

Thank you so much for viewing my new designs. I'm super excited about all of these beautiful pieces and I hope they made you smile!

Valentine's Dresses--Sneak Peek!

As promised, here is a sneak peek at two of the Valentine's dresses I'll be listing on January 3.  It's never too early to start planning ahead!

Queen of Hearts Valentine's Gown, by Glitter and Tulle Boutique

This black and red dress I'm calling, "Queen of Hearts."  I love the black and red together.  It's such an eloquent look, whether your little girl is going to a Valentine's party in the evening, or a Daddy Daughter Dance.  It has a "feathered-tulle" top, like the "boa-bodice" gown, the black and blue one you may have seen in some of my pictures, but it has it's own unique ribbon design. The entire crotchet-elastic top is laced with ribbon, which are the length of the gown! This gives it an extra quality of glamour and ensures your daughter won't have to worry about her modesty.

Ribbon and feathered-tulle bodice, design unique to Glitter and Tulle Boutique

Our little model wasn't feeling too well today, so she had to be bribed with a "wowwy-pop."

This next tutu can be worn as a dress on the littler girls or a skirt on the taller ones.  It features a crotchet-elastic bodice woven with red tulle, which falls below the bodice and becomes part of the skirt.

Red Valentine's Gown by Glitter and Tulle Boutique

It can be worn with a belt, as shown here, or without, which makes it even puffier!  (If you haven't watched my tutorial about how to tame your tutu, you might want to for this one!  It has so many layers of tulle it tends to be very flowy!)

Woven tulle crotchet-elastic bodice

Again, my Valentine's gowns will not be officially listed on etsy, ArtFire, and Bonanza until 1/3, but you can order ahead of time by emailing me at glitterandtulleboutique@gmail.com.  I can ship within 1-2 business days, even on custom orders.  Price for Queen of Hearts is $50 plus $7 shipping.  Price for Red Valentine's Gown is $40 plus $7 shipping. Other boutiques will list similar (though differently designed!) gowns starting at $80 but I only charge what I need to in order to be able to continue my passion of making tutus for little princesses.  I ship quickly, I have excellent customer service, and I will do what it takes to ensure you are completely satisfied!
Please contact me if you have any questions and check back on 1/3 for the rest of my gorgeous Valentine's designs!

New Year's Eve Dress-It's not too late, Moms!

A fake message from my two-year-old, based on her over-dramatic facial expressions and what she might be thinking (but she's probably just thinking about watching Strawberry Shortcake because that's what she's usually thinking about!) Please enjoy my hopefully humorous attempt at a shameless-plug.

 What do you mean you didn't order your little girl a dress from Glitter and Tulle Boutique for New Year's Eve?  Look at my face--can you tell I'm in shock?!?

But if you purchased her dress from somewhere else, you probably paid too much and it might not even be hand-made!

Calm down, girl, it's gonna be alright. Y
ou know, it's not too late!  Order today and it can still get there in time. Otherwise, you'll just have to make up for it by getting her the best Valentine's dress ever from Glitter and Tulle Boutique.  Custom orders are always excepted and my mommy works super fast!

With a dress from Glitter and Tulle Boutique, your little princess will always be ready for her close-up! (Can you tell I'm fake smiling, is it obvious? It's time for a milk break!)